NEW ORLEANS – OCTOBER 06: Quarterback Gus Frerotte #12 of the Minnesota Vikings looks to throw a pass against the New Orleans Saints on October 6, 2008 at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Gus Frerotte wants to return to the Vikings next season — if he is the starting quarterback.

How about as the backup? Or in competition for the starting job?

He was noncommittal about those possibilities.

“I would think, as a competitor, as you get older, knowing the talent we have, I would love to be the starter,” Frerotte told the Pioneer Press in a phone interview Tuesday while driving back to his home in St. Louis to spend the offseason with his family. “A lot of people, when they get my age (37), start breaking down. But my arm is still able to wing it pretty good.”

Frerotte, who signed a two-year contract before the 2008 season, was the team’s backup until Tarvaris Jackson was benched following an 0-2 start. Frerotte started the next 11 games, during which the Vikings went 8-3, but he was hurt during the first half of the Dec. 7 game against Detroit. Jackson relieved him, rallying the Vikings over the Lions in the second half.

Jackson started the rest of the regular season — even after Frerotte had recovered enough from his two broken transverse processes in his back to play — winning two of three games, then started Sunday’s wild-card playoff loss to Philadelphia.

Frerotte was evasive Tuesday when asked three times if he would return to the Vikings as the backup next season.

“I don’t know if that’s enough after playing this year,” Frerotte said. “I think being away from my family was tough on me.”

Frerotte was equally iffy when asked if he would return if promised a chance to compete for the starting job in training camp.

“To compete at training camp? I don’t know,” he said. “That’s all up in the air. It’ll be a family decision again.”

His option would be to retire after 15 NFL seasons or ask for his release.

The proverbial ball, Frerotte said, is in the Vikings’ court.

On Monday, Frerotte met with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers, but he did not get a chance to visit with head coach Brad Childress.

Childress declined to talk about his quarterbacks after Sunday’s loss to the Eagles, and he is scheduled to address reporters in his season-ending news conference on Thursday.

Reiterating what he said after Sunday’s game, Frerotte said he was disappointed at not playing down the stretch. After Jackson rallied the Vikings over the Lions, he came back to post the best performance by a Vikings quarterback all season, with four touchdown passes in Arizona against the NFC West champion Cardinals.

Despite Frerotte’s insistence that he was healthy, Childress started Jackson the final two games of the regular season, as well as the playoffs. Frerotte said Childress was going with a “gut feeling.”

Against the Eagles, Jackson struggled, completing 15 of 35 passes for 164 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception that was returned for a touchdown. Receivers Bobby Wade and Bernard Berrian and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe defended Jackson’s play Sunday and insisted he should remain the starter for 2009.

More than anything, Frerotte was irked because Childress told Frerotte he would be the starter for the remainder of the season when Childress benched Jackson.

“This has nothing to do with Tarvaris,” Frerotte said. “He went through as much as I did. I just felt I deserved to be out there with the guys. I felt I could give us a good chance to win at home.”

“I would like to have some throws back, but all that matters is you win games,” said Frerotte. “Yeah, we made mistakes. But we hung in and won games. For being with the team seven months, I thought I played good. I got the team back on track.”

Late in the season, Childress praised Frerotte for his contributions this season and his diplomacy in handling the coach’s decision to stick with Jackson.

Despite the issues, Frerotte said, he can “get past all that,” making clear that he can mend his relationship with Childress.

“But right now, it’s fresh,” Frerotte said, “and it’s not the first time this has happened to me. It seems sometimes good guys do finish last.”

Frerotte insisted he’s healthy now.

If he does return, Frerotte said, he needs to resolve how much time he spends with his family. After taking over as the starter, Frerotte was not able to get back regularly to St. Louis, as he had previously per his arrangement with Childress. The longest stretch was three weeks.

“We would have to work something out,” Frerotte said of the possibility of returning next season. “Right now, I’m just excited to get home and be home for more than 24 hours.”

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